Can opener



y 3, 1934- M. E. WILLARD 1,958,157

CAN OPENER Filed July 24, 1933 Inventor M.E.W1JZZard fizmaoriw Patented May 8, 1934 NITED STATES PATENT FFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in can openers and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a can opener embodying 5 a novel construction and arrangement through the medium of which a clean or even cut close to the side walls of the can may be made.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a can opener embodying means for pre- 19 venting the raising of the can top which has been cut during the opening operation, which frequently results in injury to the hand.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a can opener which will be comparatively simple in 5 construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent 20 from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can opener constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section, taken 80 substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a strip of suitable metal which is bent upon itself in a manner to provide an elongated loop constituting a handle which is designated generally by the ref erence numeral 1. It will thus be seen that the handle 1 comprises upper and lower legs 2 and 3, respectively, the free end portion of the latter being given a one-quarter twist, as at 4, and having rigidly secured thereon a knife 5. As best seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, the knife 5 is curved to conform to the curvature of the can.

The upper rear portion of the knife 5 is recessed 4.3 in a manner to provide a shoulder 6 which the free end of the leg 2 of the handle 1 abuts. This free end of the leg 2, which is indicated at 7, is adapted to engage and travel on the usual upstanding bead of the can in a manner to constitute a fulcrum as the opener is swung upwardly and downwardly in the usual manner. Further, the end 7 of the leg 2 extends inwardly over the can for preventing the can top from raising as it is cut. The cutting edge of the knife is that edge which is lowermost in Figures 1, 2 and 3, so that the shoulder 6 is formed in the dull edge of the knife and the resiliency of the handle portion will hold the shoulder 6 in contact with the end 7 with out necessitating the parts being connected together.

Projecting longitudinally from the outer portion of the free end 7 of the handle leg 2 in spaced relation to the knife 5 is a guide finger 8 which terminates in an upwardly curved free end portion 9. The guide 8 is engageable with the outer side of the can in a manner to maintain the knife 5 closely adjacent the inside thereof throughout the cutting operation.

In use, the knife 5 is driven through the can top closely adjacent the bead of the can and the end '7 of the leg 2 is engaged on top of said beadv As previously stated, the guide 9 is engaged with the outer side or periphery of the can. Then, the handle 1 is swung downwardly in a manner to swing the knife 5 upwardly for cutting the can top, the opener fulcruming on the end '7, as also previously set forth. Of course, at the completion of each cutting stroke, the handle 1 is swung upwardly and the opener is moved forwardly after which the next cutting stroke may be made.

It is believed that the many advantages of a can opener constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

A can opener comprising a handle portion formed of a single piece of flat metal bent upon itself to form a U, the extremity of one limb being twisted at right angles, a knife fastened to the twisted portion and having a dull edge, the dull edge of the knife having a shoulder formed thereon which contacts the end of the other limb of the Umember, said end of the other limb having an extension forming a continuation of one side edge of the limb, said extension being spaced from the knife to receive a part of a can being out between itself and the knife.

MAURICE E. WILLARD. 

